Football Holds Off Mona Shores in Regular-Season Finale, 14-13

The Central Catholic football team wrapped up its regular season with a hard-fought 14-13 triumph vs. Mona Shores on Friday at Sailor Stadium.  With the 1-point road win, the Fighting Irish improve to 9-1 overall.

The 2-time reigning state champions turned away a 2-point conversion with 1:35 left in regulation to secure the road victory.

Junior RB Anthony Sylvester paced the Scarlet & Gray with 104 yards on the ground. Sylvester tied a season high with 21 carries vs. the unbeaten Sailors, topping the century mark for the 2nd time this fall.

In addition, senior QB Isaiah Fox completed 7-of-14 passes for 72 yards.  Senior WR Levelle Stokes III, junior WR Sharard Vaughn III, and junior WR Jerome Davis V had 2 catches each.

The host Sailors (8-1) scored the game’s only points in the 1st half on the strength of a 4-yard TD run with less than 15 seconds showing in the clock.

CCHS knotted the score the score at 7-7 following a 2-yard scamper by Sylvester with 6:12 left in the 3rd period.  Sylvester tallied his 9th TD run on the season on 4th down.

The Fighting Irish then took the lead for good, 14-7, on a 2-yard TD run from Fox with 8:43 left in regulation.  The team captain and signal caller found pay dirt for his 1st score on the ground this fall on 4th down.

Mona Shores fought right back and tallied a 6-yard TD run by QB Jonathan Pittman with 2:25 remaining in regulation.  Instead of kicking the extra point, the Sailors tried a trick play but was unsuccessful to keep CCHS in front by a single point.

The home team recovered the onside kick on the Fighting Irish 46-yard line to give themselves 1 final chance to get the win.  Fortunately for Central Catholic, Mona Shores turned the ball over on downs with just a little over 1 minute left.